Why Youth Storytelling Matters - and How Photography Opens New Pathways for Growth
Photo by: Dilman, Youth Participant, Khanke, Iraqi-Kurdistan
Special Feature by: 100cameras
At 100cameras, we partner with youth around the world to help them process their experiences and share their stories through photography and creative expression. Many young people don’t have safe, meaningful ways to talk about what they’re feeling - but when they’re given a camera and guided through our storytelling curriculum, something shifts. They begin to understand their emotions, build confidence, and see their own lives with clarity and purpose. Their photographs become a powerful bridge between their inner world and the communities they belong to. As we enter this season of reflection, we’re launching our annual Through Your Lens: What We Hold Dear campaign - a moment for all of us to pause and consider the experiences, people, and places that help us feel grounded and connected.
For the youth we serve, those grounding moments aren’t always easy to put into words. Many are navigating uncertainty, pressure, or environments where they don’t have meaningful ways to understand or express what they’re feeling. And when young people don’t feel seen or supported, they are more likely to withdraw.
At 100cameras, we believe that is a risk we cannot take.
Our photography-based curriculum gives youth a new access point for self-reflection and connection. Through the simple act of noticing a frame, choosing a subject, or telling the story behind an image, students strengthen emotional intelligence, resilience, well-being, and community-building skills. These shifts take root quickly, and they’re measurable:
● 93% report greater optimism about their future
● 94% report a stronger belief that they can positively contribute to their communities
● 92% report increased confidence expressing their emotions
Photo by: Haley, Youth Participant, San Francisco, CA USA
Photo by: Shabana, Youth Participant, Kolkata, India
This season, we’re sharing stories, photos, and reflections from students, educators, and our creative community. Each image offers a window into what young people notice, cherish, and hope for.
Here is one such moment, shared by one of our students:
“I’ve learned that not every picture has to be perfect to be beautiful. And to just enjoy your surroundings and to just enjoy taking pictures, and it doesn’t have to be stressful. It can just be fun and creative.
I’ve learned that telling my own story through photographs doesn’t have to be what other people want, doesn’t have to be perfect. It can just be what I like and what I think tells about me and my life.
I learned that I really do like taking photos. I think a photograph that could represent myself is a flower beginning to bloom because that just shows me growing up and I can still rise and learn new things.”
Photo by: Abel David, Youth Participant, Cartagena, Colombia
We believe every young person deserves that kind of clarity - and the chance to be heard.
If you’d like to be part of this work, we invite you to join us. Every gift made between now and December 31 is matched up to $25,000, doubling access for youth who might otherwise never receive these tools or this creative space.
You can learn more, see student work, and make a matched gift at 100cameras.org/donate or by following @100cameras (links below).
Thank you to the Feeling Creative community for making room for youth stories. We’re grateful to share their incredible voices with you this season, and always.
Photo by: Zachary, Youth Participant, Peekskill, NY USA
“I’ve learned that photography is not about what pose you’re doing, it’s about how you’re feeling and where you are, and what positivity you have. And your feelings - it’s about basically your feelings, the mood, the setting, the balance, there needs to be a little bit of this and a little bit of that. So people can see what the picture is mostly about. And to feel that picture as if they really are in the picture and see how they would feel - even if they look at the picture - if they can remember the picture by heart.”
About 100cameras:
100cameras is a non-profit organization who works with youth ages 10–18 around the world, equipping them with photography and storytelling tools to process their world, connect with others, and thrive. Their programs turn photography into more than creativity — it becomes a pathway to well-being, resilience, and self-confidence.
Photo by: Ty-Yonna, Youth Participant, Atlanta, GA USA
